Draft regulator



Sept. 14, 1965 w. F. STEINEN 3,206,119

DRAFT REGULATOR Filed Oct. 31, 1963 IN VENTOR. MILL/AM F. J'TE/A/E/VUnited States Patent 3,206,119 DRAFT REGULATOR William F. Steinen, ShortHills, NJ. (43 Bruen St., Newark, NJ.) Filed Oct. 31, 1963, Ser. No.320,443 8 Claims. (Cl. 236-45) The present invention relates to a draftregulator construction, and it particularly relates to a draft regulatorconstruction having a sensitive adjustment useful in small and largesizes.

Another object is to provide a simple readily adjustable draft regulatorconstruction in which the adjustment thereof is conveniently positionedat one point thereon accessible for adjustment.

Another object is to provide a draft regulator construction in whichthere will be a better balance of the swinging vane of high sensitivityand in which the adjustment although readily available will be fullyenclosed and protected against tampering by unauthorized persons.

Still another object is to provide a simple inexpensive draft regulatorconstruction in which a single adjustment may be utilized to attain awide range of sensitivity and in which only one weighing means need beemployed.

Still further objects and advantages will appear in the more detaileddescription set forth below, it being understood, however, that thismore detailed description is given by way of illustration andexplanation only and not by way of limitation, since various changestherein may be made by those skilled in the art without departing fromthe scope and spirit of the present invention.

In accomplishing the above objects, it has been found most satisfactoryto provide a swinging vane construction in which the adjustable memberis positioned at the top of and to the rear of the vane and in which thecompensating weight will be enclosed inwardly inside of the draftregulator construction.

Desirably, the vane is provided with a carrier construction adjacent tothe top thereof which will have an extension inside and to the rear ofthe swinging vane and in which the adjustment construction will beconcealed by the vane and only available upon opening of the vane sothat the top portion thereof extends away from the frame structure.

In the preferred. construction, a right angular bracket is providedwhich is mounted upon the vane construction and has a rearwardly anddownwardly inclined slotted extension extending through and inwardly ofthe swinging vane at a position well above the pivot axis of the vaneand well above both the geometric center of the vane and the center ofgravity of the vane.

In the preferred form of the invention, the swinging vane is providedwith an upper relatively narrow top portion and a lower relatively widebottom portion with the vane itself having its maximum area below ahorizontal pivot mounting line.

The bracket structure in one form of the invention has a verticalportion which extends upwardly and vertically across the front of thevane from adjacent the pivot or hinge structure to substantially to thetop of the vane where it then has its rearwardly and downwardly inclinedslotted portion extending to the inside of and to the rear of the vanestructure.

Desirably the adjustable element consists of a dependingcylindricalweight having a knurled peripheral port-ion to enable ready graspingthereof with a central threaded recess for a flattened carriage boltelement.

This carriage bolt with its flattened sides may be readily moved up anddown the slot upon loosening of the weight upon the bolt and may bereadily clamped in any readily predetermined position by screwing up ofthe weight upon the bolt.

3,206,119 Patented Sept. 14, 1965 In one form of the invention, thebracket has a forwardly directed extension which at its forward facewill be substantially llush or in the frame in the front of the frameand in advance or in front of the plane of the vane so as to give aZ-shaped structure.

The slotted portion of the rearwardly and downwardly inclined bracketportion is so regulated that the weight at one extreme position will besubstantially in the plane of the vane but with its axis inclinedforwardly of the horizontal pivotal axis. At the other extreme position,the weight will be substantially closer to the axis and at a lowerposition in respect to the vane and closer to the geometric center aswell as the center of gravity.

It is an important feature of the present invention that the adjustmentof the weight from its minimum moment position to its maximum momentposition will involve a movement of the weight from the plane of thevane to away from the plane of the vane and to the rear thereof and atthe same time the weight is being moved closer to the geometric centerand the center of gravity.

At all times it has been found most effective to have the vertical axisof the weight at an inclination to the plane of the vane so that theaxis of the weight in the minimum moment position will be in front andextend down forwardly to the pivotal axis while in its maximum momentposition it will extend obliquely downwardly to the rear of the axis ofthe vane and to intersect the vane substantially below such axis.

The stop mechanism to limit the inward and outward motion of the vaneare desirably positioned at each side thereof and about at the lowerbracket thereof and associated with the bearing structure.

Desirably the forward stop which stops the vane in the plane of itsenclosing frame when the vane is in closed position is positioned belowthe pivotal axis whereas the stop which limits the opening of the vaneis positioned at and extending across the pivotal axis.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention consists ofthe novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts ashereinafter more specifically described and illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, wherein is shown an embodiment of the invention,but it is to be understood that changes, variations and modificationscan be resorted to which fall within the scope of the claims hereuntoappended.

In the drawings wherein like reference characters denote eorrespondingparts throughout the several views:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of the draft regulator of the presentinvention showing the front arrangement of the adjustment construction.

FIG. 2 is a transverse sectional view upon the line 2--2 of FIG. 1 andupon an enlarged scale as compared to FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective separated view of the weight adjustment removedfrom the vane of FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view taken upon the line 44of FIG. 1 showing the pivot construction.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown an enclosing frame or housingA which receives the swinging vane B pivotally mounted at C upon aseparated side pivot connection D with a rearwardly land inwardlyextending thirnble E.

The adjustment itself consists of a bracket F carrying the adjustableweight G which may be fixed in position by means of the bolt H.

The housing or frame A has an outside flush flange 20 with an inwardlydirected peripheral circular frustroconical insert portion 21 having theinwardly directed flange 22.

The inclined flange 21 will closely fit within and wedge inside of theforward end 23 of the thimble E which is cylindrical and extendsrearwardly to the circular recess opening 24.

This recess opening 24 has the upper and lower openings 25 and 26 whichmay receive attachments to a suitable flue or other furnace connectionleading to a chimney.

As shown best in FIG. 1, the forward end 23 of the thimble E may beclamped onto the conical portion 21 by the strap 24 having theout-turned ears 25 which may be bolted or otherwise connected together.

This strip is desirably positioned inside of the front flange 20, and itwill assure a tight connection between the thimble E and the frame orhousing A.

The flange 22 has the inward enlargement 26 which have the side verticaledges 27 extending down and across the pivot connections D, and it hasthe lower inclined portions 28 which terminate at 29 below the pivotaxis and at the portions of the frame adjacent the stop and hinge platestructure J.

The vane by means of the rivets or screws 30 will carry the hinge platebase structure 31 which has the outwardly extending arms 32 which willact as forward stops by way of extensions 33 contacting the interior ofthe peripheral flange 22 at the position 34.

The hinge plate I will also have a vertical flange 35 extendingvertically between the vane B and closely adjacent to the vertical edges27 of the enlargement 26.

The vertical portion 35 will also have the the outstanding flangeportion 36 which will act as an open stop against the enlargement 26extending inwardly and downwardly from the peripheral flange 22.

The pin hinge structure itself is best shown in FIG. 4 and consists ofthe short pin 50 projecting through the opening 51 in the plat 35 andits outside end 52 extending into the semi-circular recess 53 extendingacross the hinge line or axis 54 of the vane B.

The other end of the pin is tapered as indicated at 55 and will abut theedge 56 formed in the enlargement or extension 26.

The body of the enlargement 27 has outwardly strapped members 57 and larearwardly directed strap member 58 which tightly grasps the pin 50 andholds it in position so that it will not turn and so that it will beheld in fixed position as the plate 51 forms part of the hingestructure.

The pivotal connections D are desirably position substantially above thecenter of gravity 60 and above the geometrical center as indicatedapproximately at 59 of the swinging vane B.

The adjustment to which the invention is particularly directed includingthe bracket F and the weight G has a vertical leg75 having the opening76 which enables the leg 75 to be mounted by the rivet 77 upon thecentral portion of the vane 78 directly above the pivot axis 54.

The bracket F has a forwardly inclined portion 79 which continues intothe vertical portion 80 which lies in parallel to the Vane B, and whenthe vane is closed, it will be positioned inside of althoughsubstantially in the plane of the outside flush flanges 20.

Desirably the inclined portion 79 and 83 inclined upwardly and forwardlyat an angle of about to 30 with a preferred angle of to and a mean of16.

The upper portion of the vane is slotted as indicated at 81 with the'slot being slightly greater than the width of the bracket 15.

From the upper end 80 of the portion 81 of the bracket F, there isprovided the rearward and downward extension 83 which is desirablyparallel to the forward extension 79 but may have a different angletherefrom varying from 5 to to the horizontal axis of the thimble E andthe horizontal vertical axis of the vane in closed position will extendthrough the geometric center 60.

This downwardly and rearwardly inclined extension 83 is provided withthe central longitudinal slot 84 which receives and prevents-turning ofthe flattened portion 85 of the carriage bolt H.

The weight G should be to balance the vane B to closed position.

The carriage bolt H has downwardly extending threaded portion 36 whichextends into the threaded portion 87 in the weight G.

The weight G has'a top flat face 80 terminating in the bevelled edge 89.

The cylindrical outside face 90 has a knurled peripheral face 91 whichhas a bevelled lower portion 92, to control the center of gravity sothat it will more closely be adjacent to the upper portion ofthe weightGadjacent the slot 84. i

The weight G is normally concealed by the closed vane B but by pushingin on the lower portion of the vane B, it

is possible to move the weight forwardly so that it will be accessibleand may be adjusted forwardly and out wardly in the direction 93 to givea lesser moment or rearwardly and inwardly in the direction 94 to give agreater moment.

At the extreme position in the direction 93, the weight will be in theplane of the vane but will not project a substantial distance in theslot 81 in the front of the vane.

In this position, the vertical axis 95 will be directed downwardly infront of the pivotal connections D and the weight will create a minimummoment.

In the extreme position of the direction 94, the weight will be moreclosely adjacent to the pivot membersD and will have its inclined axisdirected to the rear of the pivot axis C and will exert a maximum momenton the vane tending to move it in the direction 94.

By this adjustment, it is possible to secure any desired balance of thevane in accordance with the requirements and the draft which is to bemaintained.

The positioning of the weight G at the top of the vane with itsincreasing arrangement when moved to a lower moment and when moved to agreater moment will give a better balance.

The fact that the movement in the direction 93 will tend to move theweight towardand into the plane of the vane and cause its verticalinclined axis to move across the pivot axis 54 will give maximumsensitivity and enable a better balancing of the weight of the vane inrespect to the draft requirements.

It will be noted that during all these adjustments and during everyadjusted position, the weight is always inwardly and inside of thethimble E and to the rear of the vane B and above the geometric center60 as well as the center of gravity 59.

By positioning the weight and adjusting it in the manner shown, theentire necessary enlargement of adjustment may be achieved by a singleweight and without a double weight positioned in front of and in back ofthe swinging vane.

If desired, the vertical angle of the weight may vary between 5 to 15degrees away from the plane of the swinging vane, but it is to beunderstood that this angle may vary from 5 to 25 degrees and that theinclination of the slotted extension 83 may similarly vary to give thisvariation and inclination of the axis 95.

It is thusapparent that the applicant has provided a highly sensitivesingle weight adjustment draft regulator of operating characteristics.

As many changes could be made in the above draft regulator and manywidely different embodiment of this invention could be made withoutdeparting from the scope from the circular frame and pivot mountings atthe sides of the swinging vane and mounted in the sides of the frame,said frame and Vane having a front side and a rear side and having upperand lower portions above and below the pivot mountings; the combinationtherewith of a single adjustment weight sensitivity control comprisingan angular bracket having a mounting portion mounted on the front sideof and on the upper portion of the vane above the pivot mountings andalso having an outwardly and upwardly extending portion and an inwardlyextending adjustment portion, extending rearwardly and inwardly of thevane and an adjustment weight thereon to be moved toward and away fromthe vane.

2. A draft regulator of the type having a circular frame, a swingingvane pivotally mounted inside said circular frame, a thimble attached toand extending rearwardly from the circular frame and pivot mountings atthe sides of the swinging vane and mounted in the sides of the frame,said frame and vane having a front side and a rear side and having upperand lower portions above and below the pivot mountings; the combinationtherewith of a single adjustment weight sensitivity control comprisingan angular bracket having a mounting portion mounted on the front sideof and on the upper portion of the vane above the pivot mountings andalso having an outwardly and upwardly extending portion and an inwardlyextending adjustment portion, extending rearwardly and inwardly of thevane and an adjustment weight thereon to be moved toward and away fromthe vane, said vane being vertically slotted adjacent the upper verticalcentral portion thereof to receive said adjustment portion and saidadjustment portion being slotted.

3. A draft regulator of the type having a circular frame, a swingingvane pivotally mounted inside said circular frame, a thimble attached toand extending rearwardly from the circular frame and pivot mountings atthe sides of the swinging vane and mounted in the sides of the frame,said frame and vane having a front side and a rear side and having upperand lower portions above and below the pivot mountings; the combinationtherewith of a single adjustment weight sensitivity control comprisingan angular bracket having a mounting portion mounted on the front sideof and on the upper portion of the vane above the pivot mountings andalso having an outwardly and upwardly extending portion and an inwardlyextending adjustment portion, extending rearwardly and inwardly of thevane and an adjustment weight thereon to be moved toward and away fromthe vane, said bracket being provided with a forward extension parallelto and spaced in front of the vane and positioned slightl inside of thecircular frame.

4. A draft regulator of the type having a circular frame, a swingingvane pivotally mounted inside said circular frame, a thimble attached toand extending rearwardly from the circular frame and pivot mountings atthe sides of the swinging vane and mounted in the sides of the frame,said frame and vane having a front side and a rear side and having upperand lower portions above and below the pivot mountings; the combinationtherewith of a single adjustment weight sensitivity control comprisingan angular bracket having a mounting portion mounted on the front sideof and on the upper portion of the vane above the pivot mountings andalso having an outwardly and upwardly extending portion and an inwardlyextending adjustment portion, extending rearwardly and inwardly of thevane and an adjustment weight thereon to be moved toward and away fromthe vane, said weight being cylindrical and having a knurled graspingportion on the periph' ery thereof and having a lower peripheral portionand a central axial recess and a carriage bolt connecting said weight tosaid adjustment portion and permitting change in position between theweight and the adjustment portion to give a varying balance to the vane.

5. A draft regulator of the type having a circular frame, a swingingvane pivotally mounted inside said circular frame, a thimble attached toand extending rearwardly from the circular frame and pivot mountings atthe sides of the swinging vane and mounted in the sides of the rame,said frame and vane having a front side and a rear side and having upperand lower portions above and below the pivot mountings; the combinationtherewith of a single adjustment weight sensitivity control comprisingan angular bracket having a mounting portion mounted on the front sideof and on the upper portion of the vane above the pivot mountings andalso having an outwardly and upwardly extending portion and an inwardlyextending adjustment portion, extending rearwardly and inwardly of thevane and an adjustment weight thereon to be moved toward and away fromthe vane, said vertical mounting portion having a forward extensiondirectly in front of the top of the vane and extending parallel to thefront of the vane and said vane being slotted to the rear of saidforward extension and said adjacent portion being positioned at andclosely adjacent to the top edge of the swinging vane.

6. A weight adjustment for a swingable mounted vane of a draft regulatorof the type having an encircling thimble, a fiat vane pivotally mountedtherein, and pivot mountings at the sides of the vane between the topand bottom of the vane, said vane having a front forward side and a rearside and a center of gravity and a horizontal hinge line and upper andlower portions above and below the hinge line, said adjustment includingan angular bracket with a downwardly extending vertical portion mountedon the vane above the pivot mountings, a portion extending forwardly ofthe plane of the vane and a por tion extending rearwardly of the planeof the vane and a weight adjustably mounted on the rearward extension ofthe bracket.

7. The adjustment of claim 6, the upper portion of the vane having anenlarged slot extending vertically above the center of gravity and thehorizontal hinge line through which said rearwardly extending portionextends, said rearwardly extending portion extending downwardly obliquely away from the rear side of the vane.

8. The adjustment of claim 6, said rearwardly extending portion having aslot extending therethrough transversely to the plane of the vane andcommencing at a point substantially inside the plane of the vane.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,102,884 12/37Breese 236-45 2,309,425 1/43 Weyenberg 236-45 2,346,825 4/44 Cole 236-452,721,705 10/55 Patrick 23645 2,825,506 3/58 Steinen 236-45 EDWARD J.MICHAEL, Primary Examiner.

ALDEN D. STEWART, Examiner.

1. A DRAFT REGULATOR OF THE TYPE HAVING A CIRCULAR FRAME, A SWINGINGVANE PIVOTALLY MOUNTED INSIDE SAID CIRCULAR FRAME, A THIMBLE ATTACHED TOAND EXTENDING REARWARDLY FROM THE CIRCULAR FRAME AND PIVOT MOUNTINGS ATTHE SIDES OF THE SWINGING VANE AND MOUNTED IN THE SIDES OF THE FRAME,SAID FRAME AND VANE HAVING A FRONT SIDE AND A REAR SIDE AND HAVING UPPERAND LOWER PORTIONS ABOVE AND BELOW THE PIVOT MOUNTINGS; THE COMBINATIONTHEREWITH OF A SINGLE ADJUSTMENT WEIGHT SENSITIVITY CONTROL COMPRISINGAN ANGULAR BRACKET HAVING A MOUNTING PORTION MOUNTED ON THE FRONT SIDEOF AND ON THE UPPER PORTION OF THE VANE ABOVE THE PIVOT MOUNTINGS ANDALSO HAVING AN OUTWARDLY AND UPWARDLY EXTENDING PORTION AND AN INWARDLYEXTENDING ADJUSTMENT PORTION, EXTENDING REARWARDLY AND INWARDLY OF THEVANE AND AN ADJUSTMENT WEIGHT THEREON TO BE MOVED TOWARD AND AWAY FROMTHE VANE.